Match package



G. D. MARTIN Feb. 9, 19 43.

MAT EH PACKAGE Filed Dec. 18, 1939 Zinnentor George D. Marfin v Gttorneg Patented Feb. 9, 1943 UNITED [STATES PATENT OFFICE MATCH PACKAGE George D. Martin, Olympia, Wash.

Application December 18, 1939, Serial No. 309,769

11 Claims.

My invention relates to match packages, and is especially adapted to match books, although the principles thereof may be applied to various types of match packages.

Not infrequently one who is walking along carrying a package in one hand, or driving a. car, or who has one hand occupied in some fashion, wishes to smoke. He can readily withdraw a cigarette with the other hand from a package, and place it in his mouth, but unless he has available a strike-anywhere match he cannot, by himself, and with one hand only, withdraw a match from the normal match book or match box, strike it, and light his cigarette, for in order to strike the match he must hold the match book, which has the striking surface, in the same hand that holds the match, and at the same time must accomplish movement of the match head relative to the striking surface. This he cannot do, because he cannot firmly hold the match book while moving the match across the match books striking surface.

It is the general and principal object of the present invention to provide means which can be built into or associated with a match package, more particularly a match book, to enable the accomplishment of the above end, a device which will enable the user to hold the match book immovable while he first detaches a match from it,

and While he next moves the match, held in the same hand, across the striking surface of the match book thus immovably held by a finger of that same hand. Expressed in a few words, the object of the present invention is to provide a one-handed match book, by means of which a match can be detached and can be struck all with the same hand.

It is a further object to provide such a onehanded match book in which the novel arrangement may be either built in or formed as an attachment for securement to successively used match books.

It is a, further object to provide an arrangement of the nature indicated, in which the heads of the matches which still remain in the book are automatically, by the nature of the use of the device, held covered during the operation of striking the detached match.

It is a further object to provide such a device in the nature of an attachment which will fit most match books, and which can be simply and cheaply made, to the end that it may, if desired, be given as a premium or distributed gratis, and which is so formed that it may bear the donors advertisement.

With these and other objects in mind, as will appear as this specification progresses, my invention comprises the novel combination of a match book and such a holding or steadying device, whether formed as an inbuilt part of the match book or as an attachment, and the attachment itself, as a separate article of commerce, all as shown in the accompanying drawing, and as will be described in this specification and more particularly pointed out by the claims which terminate the same.

In the accompanying drawing my invention has been shown in several arrangements, illustrating the adaptability of the invention to different forms of execution.

Figure l is a perspective view, showing the manner of use of the device in a preferred form.

Figure 2 is an edge View of this form, showing parts assembled.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the same form, showing the manner of applying the attachment to a common match book.

Figures 4 and 5 are edge views of modified form of execution of the invention.

In essence the invention comprises the formation of a loop at the back of a match book cover, which loop may be formed in part by the cover itself and in part by a loop-forming member which is either formed as a part of the match book itself. or which is supplied as an attachment to the match book in which loop, thus formed, may be inserted the middle finger of the users hand, so that the match book may thereby be steadily supported. While thus supported, and with the thumb and index finger of the same hand, the front of the match book may be withdrawn from the front retaining flap, which latter carrie the striking surface, may be pressed back to afford access to the matches, and may be held back by the fourth' and fifth fingers. Now, with the heads of the matches directed downwardly, the user may raise up a match with his thumb, and detach it by rolling it with his thumb over his forefinger, drawing it downward from its base while grasping it between thumb and forefinger, and detaching it by downward movement of the forefinger. Now, with the detached match reversed, as it would be in the described process of detaching it, and still held between the thumb and forefinger, its head may be drawn across the striking surface, which is uppermost as the match book is thus held, this position of parts being shown in Figure l. The heads of the matches are protected by the fourth finger, which constitutes a resistance to rotation of the match book about the middle finger, which rotation might otherwise be caused by the pressure of the match head on the striking surface. It is possible with a little practice thus to strike the head of a detached match, and to move it, when ignited, away from the striking surface, and to light a cigarette therewith. This done, it is possible to close the front of the cover again, and to replace the match book in the pocket, and thus the entire operation has been accomplished with one hand. By suitable modification the same operation could be performed with a match loose in a match box, provided only the relative arrangement of the loop, the entrance to the box, and the striking surface, is substantially the same as in the match book.

As will be clear, it is immaterial whether the loop be formed as a built-in part of the match book or as an attachment to the match book. In practice it is preferred that it be formed as an attachment.

In any of these forms the match book is of a common type, consisting of one or more cards of matches, each card consisting of a plurality of match splints l and a base 2. These cards of matches are enclosed, as usual, within a cover which consists of a front retaining flap 3, a back 4, and a loose front flap 5, the lower edge of which is usually intended to be retained under the edge of the retaining flap 3. The retaining flap 3, which is coated on its front face with a striking surface, the base 2 of the match card or cards, and the back 4, are all secured together as by a staple 6.

In the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the attachment, which cooperates with and is applied to the match book to form a finger-receiving and supporting 100p, includes a cross bar 1, which is of a length equal to the width of the front cover flap 5 and the back 4. At its ends are disposed inwardly directed and overlying flanges 8, spaced just sufliciently from the cross bar I as to receive the thickness of the cover between them, and to grip this somewhat. Accordingly the ends of the cross bar and the overlying fianges 8 form a guide, of some extent along the edges of the cover, by means of which the attachment can be slid along these edges to a position where the cross bar extends across the base 2, but outside of the cover, and at the back of the match book. The inturned flanges 8, contacting the bend in the cover which extends about the base 2, prevents further movement. In order additionally to secure it in this place, and to prevent its detachment, there may be provided an inwardly directed flange 9 along one edge of the cross bar I, which, as is shown in Figures 1 and 2, somewhat overlies the end of the match book, and serves to prevent accidental reverse sliding of the attachment.

Extending from the edge of the cross bar which is opposite the flange 9 is a finger I0, which is curved first outwardly and then inwardly to form with the back 4 a loop of a size and shape to conveniently receive a finger of the user. It may be that the cover, stifiened by being held along its edges between the cross bar 1 and the flanges 8, will be sufiiciently stiff to cooperate properly with the finger H1. However, in order to insure that there is sufficient stiffness in the cover it is preferable to provide additional fingers ll, one at each side of the attachment, extending from the flanges 8 generally alongside the finger [0, but adapted to lie at the inner face of the back 4, where they will engage the back of the cover at points spaced from the base 2 and the flanges 8 to stiffen the cover, and to cooperate properly with the curved finger ID to form a loop. The device is preferably formed of sheet metal, so that while it is reasonably stiff, it is somewhat resilient, and may, in particular, yield to accommodate diiferent sizes of fingers.

The manner of application is illustrated in Figure 3, the attachment being applied at the free end of the loose flap 5, and being slid downward to the base of the match book. Its manner of use is shown in Figure 1, where the detached match I is being held between the thumb and forefinger, as it is drawn across the striking surface of the flap 3. The middle finger is received in the loop defined between the curved finger l0 and the back 4 or the fingers H. The fourth and fifth fingers lie across the heads of the matches and across the open flap 5 to prevent rotation of the match book around the middle finger. The finger Il] may bear advertising matter, if desired, and the attachment may be given away as an advertisement for other products cigarettes, for instance.

In Figure 4 a loop-forming member 12 is applied directly to the inner face of the match book cover, being held at one end by the staple 6, and at the other end by a staple l3 or equivalent means. Thus held at two spaced points, and being of flexible material, for instance of the same sort of board as the cover itself is made of, the loop-forming member l2 and the back 4 of the cover may yield, as shown in dotted lines, to form a loop, and this is used in the same way as has been described, and to the same end.

In Figure 5 a further modification is shown, wherein a loop-forming member I4 is secured at one end only, as by the staple 6, but lies inside the back 4 of the cover. Its other end, indicated at 14, extends through a slit in the cover, and is of sufficient length and stiifness that when the loop is formed, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 5, it will not be withdrawn and pulled out of this slit. The loop thus formed serves the same purpose as before, and both this loop and the loop of the form shown in Figure 4 adapt themselves readily to different sizes or thickness of finger.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A match book package, comprising a match card including a base having match splints projecting individually from one edge of such base, a match scratching surface at one side of said base, a plurality of stifi, complemental finger engaging strips, means integrally interconnecting said strips at one end and disposed alongside said base at the side thereof opposite said scratching surface, and means holding together said strip interconnecting means and said card base in such relationship, said strips extending from said strip end interconnecting means alongside said match splints substantially to the tip ends thereof, and being spaced apart transversely to engage opposite sides of a users finger, thereby to clamp the finger for supporting the match book package therefrom.

2. In combination with a match book which comprises one or more cards of matches, a cover therefor which includes a front retaining flap, a back, and a loose front flap, and means securing the retaining flap, the back, and the match cards together only at the base of the cards, and a stiff, finger engaging strip secured to the back adjacent such base, and extending thence substantially to the head ends of the match splints for clamping a users finger between the back and said strip, thus to support the match book from such finger.

3. In combination with a match book which comprises one or more cards of matches, a cover therefor which includes a front retaining flap, a back, and a loose front flap, and means securing the retaining flap, the back, and the match cards together only at the base of the cards, a loopforming member likewise secured to the back adjacent such base, and extending thence towards the head end of the match splints, and means connecting the cover and said member together, distant from the base, to form a finger-receiving loop between the two spaced points of engagement.

4. In combination with a match book which comprises one or more cards of matches, a cover therefor which includes a front retaining flap, a back, and a loose front fiap, and means securing the retaining flap, the back, and the match cards together only at the base of the cards, a loopforming member likewise secured to the back adjacent such base, and extending thence towards the head end of the match splints, the cover having a slit at a point spaced from the base, and said member, distant from the base, being threaded through said slit, but otherwise unconnected to the cover, to form with the cover a fingerreceiving loop.

5. In combination with a match book which comprises one or more cards of matches, a cover therefor which includes a front retaining fi'ap, a back, stapled together through the base of the match cards, and a loose front flap, a relatively rigid attachment therefor comprising a cross bar terminating at its ends in overlying flanges spaced apart sufliciently to receive between them and to grip the opposite edges of the cover, and to stiffen the cover lengthwise, and a curved. finger extending transversely of the cross bar which, when said flanges grip the back of the cover, is disposed to receive between it and the cover back a supporting finger of the users hand.

6. The combination of claim 5, including also a pair of arms extending from the cross bar lengthwise of the covers back, alongside the curved finger, but at the opposite face of the back, to additionally stiffen the latter.

'7. The combination of claim 5, including also a flange along an edge of the cross bar, disposed and arranged to contact an end of the match book, thereby to retain the attachment in place.

8. An attachment for a match book such as includes one or more cards of matches, a front retaining flap, a back, all stapled together through the base of the cards, and a loose front flap, said attachment comprising a cross bar of the width of th cover, overlying flanges at its ends adapted to slidably engage the edges of the cover to guide the cross bar to position across the cover back, and a curved finger extending from the cross bar in a direction along the back of the cover.

9. An attachment for a match book such as includes one or more cards of matches, a front retaining flap, a back, all stapled together through the base of the cards, a loose front flap, said attachment comprising a cross bar of the width of the cover, overlying flanges at its ends adapted to slidably engage the edges of the cover to guide the cross bar to position across the cover back, and a curved finger extending from the cross bar in a direction along the back of the cover, and a flange along the opposite edge of the cross bar, directed inwardly to contact the base end of the match book, to retain the attachment in place.

10. An attachment for a match book such as includes one or more cards of matches, a front retaining flap, a back, all stapled together through the base of the cards, a loose front flap, said attachment comprising a cross bar of the width of the cover, overlying flanges at its ends adapted to slidably engage the edges of the cover to guide the cross bar to position across the cover back, and a curved finger extending from the cross bar in a direction along the back of the cover, and two fingers extending from the overlying flanges lengthwise of the back, and generally alongside the curved finger.

11. In combination with a match book which comprises one or more cards of match splints, and a cover therefor which includes a back secured to the match cards at their base only, a loop-forming member formed with inturned flanges at each side embracing a portion of the match book at the base of the cards, said member being formed with a finger which extends thence behind the back and towards the free ends of the match splints, and with additional fingers which extend from the flanges, and lie at either side of the first finger, but in front of the back, said first finger and the additional fingers, in position of use, being spaced apart in the direction of the thickness of the book, and intermediate the ends of the match splints, to define 'a-transverse strap for the reception of a finger, thus to support the match book.

GEORGE D. MARTIN. 

